Via Wonkroom, a quick update on Jim Bunning's battle to prevent the extension of unemployment benefits: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid offered to bring Bunning's proposal, to have the bill paid for from stimulus funds, up for a vote. Bunning refused because he "did not expect his colleagues to adopt it."
So, to be clear: Bunning is filibustering an economically necessary bill to help the unemployed because it is not being funded the way he'd wish. He's been offered the opportunity to have his preferred mechanism brought up for a vote, but he refused, because he knows his colleagues won't vote to pass it. And Senate procedure allows him to delay all Senate business for 30 hours with this vain protest. The Senate needs reform.
-- Tim Fernholz
